by David Nash
“Commander, I understand your concerns, and they are valid from your point of view. However, I am armored and your men are not. Do not worry about me, and I will not interfere with your tactics. As soon as we breech I will go straight in, shields up and cannons out. You will lead your men as you have trained. That is an order.”
The SEAL looked disgusted, but he did not argue. He wordlessly went back to his men.
“Commander?” Osborne turned back around.
“Sir?”
“After we take this ship, you are free to talk about how the grandstanding general risked your men to make a point. However, what you won’t say is that a chicken shit general sat on the back of the bus wearing armor while you and your men put your unarmored asses on the line. If it's any consolation, you don’t have to like it, you just have to do it.”
“Yes Sir” He said nodding, “No talk of chickenshit Generals Sir!”
“Sir, we are in position, awaiting orders to begin boarding Operations.”
“Commander Osborne are your men ready?”
“All in?” He yells!
“All the Time!” The Team thunderously responds.
“Ensign, Execute!”
Intellectually, I knew that the gravity plates would counteract inertia, and that it should not feel like a car crash. Marvin ran the numbers and tested he systems thousands of times virtually. However, virtually was the operative word. I, like every one of the troops on board grabbed onto something and held on for dear life as we purposefully went to .25c and drove into a huge starship.
Impact was not without some feeling of crashing, our technology did mitigate some of the inertia, but ramming another ship while moving at one quarter the speed of light was not a minor impact. We jerked pretty severely upon impact. It was not enough to knock down my former Navy men with long practiced sea legs, but it almost toppled me. If it weren’t for my suit and the fact that I used the maglock on the rear of my suit to stick me to the bulkhead I would have surely embarrassed myself.”
As soon as we rammed the ship, Marvin activated the nanites to latch onto the buckled walls of the Punishment ship. When he fired the rail guns the rounds blasting deep into the ship paving a way for our entry. The bow hatch exploded inward and ricochetted a few times down the hall.
I screamed my best Rebel yell and charged straight into the ship. My shield was up in my left hand and the ion cannon mounted on my right forearm was sending cannon blasts at everything in front of me. I imagined I looked like Han Solo as he ran to save the Princess, I don’t want to know what the SEALS thought I looked like. Regardless, the team followed, peeling off to secure the immediate area. One member used breeching charges on the door to the bridge and yelled “fire in the hole” and detonated the charges.
The explosion in the confined space was more shocking than the actual breech itself. The SEALS immediately surged into the bridge shooting every Barkun present except for the large Barkun sitting the raised chair in the center of the bridge. As soon as all were down the Former Lt Commander marched up to the Barkun struck him in the face with the butt of his rifle and said, “Captain, on Behalf of the Legion, I Lieutenant Commander Lawrence Osbourne of the Legion claim this ship by right of Conquest.” A single suppressed report from the rifle left a small neat hole in the forehead of the scaly meat sack. Unfortunately, it left quite a mess everywhere else.
“Ship” The Captain Osborne said, “Do you recognize my claim?”
“Yes Captain”.
“First Platoon, secure the bridge, Everyone else, back to the Bus!” As soon as we were back on the Ram ship, Marvin used nanites to reseal the bow and we backed out. By that time, 1st Platoon had sealed the hole in the bridge using a combination of iridium plate we had replicated specifically for this purpose and nanites. As soon as the bridge was airtight, The newly promoted Captain implemented the plan to secure the rest of the ship.
The plan was to securing the Bridge was, as I mentioned earlier, to open all internal and external hatches on the ship, and turn off life support to all areas except the bridge. He was then to jump to a predetermined system and make his way to New Aubagne. Half of the saucers were to follow the punishment ship as a protective convoy as well as to bring the support staff needed to really begin fleet building operations.
I was going to take the rest to Proxima Centauri b. As soon as I saw the ship decompress and Barkun begin to fly into space, ordered my ships to begin transit. Not only did we get a punishment ship, based on Captain Osborne’s comment, the Ram ship earned the nickname “the Bus”. I just hate that it cost us 6 saucers and the lives of all 30 Legionnaires onboard.
19
Once again, we were lucky in that the transit to Proxima Centauri was unopposed. I knew that would end soon. If Ensign Jones has done anywhere near what I expected of him, I would soon have some new options.
The saucers remained cloaked in orbit as the Bus went to the hanger. As soon as we were safe inside, I saw just how busy the kid had been. We hadn’t been gone near long enough for him to complete an entire base, so he focused on the excavation of a huge tunnel down just as I had done at the base. He had dug deep enough so that we had room for all of our ships. I was pleased at this, but what I really liked was that he understood my intent was to build a logistics and training base close to Earth so he built the makings of a training room.
“General,” The Ensign said showing me his simulator room “Since you were going to Earth to get soldiers, I knew you needed to train them. I prioritized training space over facilities, as I figured, you could only bring people in ships, and they could live in those short term.” My young ensign was sure of himself and cocky, but I could see a little defensiveness in his look.
“Continue, Ensign. I want to hear what else you decided to do.”
“Well, Since I thought training was a priority, I built a training system. I found the schematics for displays and built a couple of small rooms covered with nanites that we can program to simulate piloting just as Marvin and you did on our first flight together. I am not a programmer, so the rooms are not fully functional. I also built a shooting range, and a large rooms that we can use as a meeting room. Additionally, I made a room covered in gravity plates for physical training.”
“Well,” I said rubbing my chin “That really isn’t the work of an Ensign, so I don’t think I’m going to let you stay one any longer.”
The poor boy looked so crestfallen, I couldn’t continue to play with him.
“Ensign Marvin?”
“Yes, General?”
Do you have the schematics for the Naval Rank insignia I asked you to create?”
“Yes General”
“Make Mr. Jones a set of Silver Bars, I realized I don’t have any Lieutenants Junior Grade in this outfit.”
To my new Lieutenant I said,“Lieutenant Jones, You did a good job on this base. It can’t be considered to be finished, and even if it was, you do not hold high enough rank to command it, besides I am assigning you back to Admiral Johns to serve as his aide. At least until the new job I have for you becomes available.”
“Sir, I may I ask what the new job is?”
“You better not let the Admiral hear you asking about the assignment after his, you know the British get offended easily. And no, you cannot ask. That lack of basic military decorum is why I have already selected your new assignment. However, I will tell you anyway because I like the simulator rooms. Jones, I am sending you back to boot camp.”
“Thank you Sir.” Finally, the boy is learning what to say to a General, but he still hasn’t learned to make his face agree with his mouth.
I put a Former Green Beret Major in charge of the base, I assigned him half of the support staff and all of the former drill instructors, drill sergeants, and training cadre. I ordered Admetos to stay and use his experience with the Sangren military academy to assist the creation of our Legionnaire recruit depot. I gave the major three tasks. First, he was to create the toughest training ever devised. I wanted
our teams to be able to be the galaxy’s apex predator. My grandfather raised my Dad on the saying,“You can be smart or you can be strong.” That may have worked on Earth, but the Legionnaires were going to have to be both.
Secondly, I wanted Logistic ships built using the schematic Ensign Marvin and I designed. I wanted them filled with raw materials and power generation modules for Earth. Since the suits were custom built, we could not stockpile them, but he could armor his personnel and make hover shields. Personally, I wanted to see the combat suits used in space.
Lastly, I wanted him to finish this base. I stressed the likelihood of planetary bombardment if we were caught and said to use his best judgment on his defensive strategy. I authorized him to make decisions on weaponizing the space within this solar system and to create additional bases on other planets in the system if he though it was best.
I was in a hurry to get back to Legionnaire headquarters. Marvin said he needed more time in order to communicate with the Kernels. Of course, I agreed, if we could get them to join the legion they were infinitely more value than their acting like they were some kind of indentured servant.
“General, I have communicated with the Kernels inside this base.”
“How do they feel about the Legion? Do any want to join?” I asked.
“Sir, they don’t feel anything about the Legion. They are still contemplating the consequences of what they have seen. Some conclude that my inhabiting a non-spacefaring body is your attempt to enslave me. However, the video of your explanation of Kernels to humans was very interesting to them.”
“Marvin, do you feel I offered you a body to transfer into in order to try to enslave you?”
“Sir, I do feel that it was initially part of your plan to deceive me, however, I do not believe it was ever your intent to trap me. I actually like the freedom it gives me, especially since I still pilot whatever vessel you travel in. Actually, I have ideas on a new body I would like to discuss with you.”
It wasn’t the time to tell Marvin that he would not always pilot every ship I was on, and he was right about my initial reasons for suggesting he move to a body, so I was willing to throw him a bone.
“Ensign, I have some time available now, can you describe your ideas?”
“Sir, I the form I currently inhabit is small enough to fit inside of a current model combat suit. Yet, with the powered exoskeleton of the suit, If a current suit was upgraded in processing power I could inhabit one and retain mobility. However, If I build a similar design and don’t have to maintain the ability to carry a rider, I could greatly increase capability.”
“What kind of capability exactly?” I asked, seeing some interesting potential.
I could increase the capacity of unactivated nanites nearly 100 times what is currently carried, a greatly upgraded sensor and communications suite would be possible, additionally I could carry communication and decoy drones, and with a larger power generation capability I could maintain a stronger cloak, and gain the possibility to mount mission specific tools externally.”
“If I ordered, could those mission specific tools be things like torpedoes and other ordinance?”
“I still maintain the restriction on firing without specific orders, but what you ask is possible if you maintain fire control.”
“How long will it take to design and build.”
“General, if you approve the design, I can begin building a suit in the replicator on the Ram ship. Construction of the components will take a week. Assembly would take less than 8 hours. No current use is scheduled for the replicator inside the Bus, and I can perform assembly during my off-cycle.”
He already made the design… It is interesting that he was able to do that without permission.
“Ensign, you have my permission to execute your plan. By the way, Do kernels have any cultural taboos about inhabiting a form that isn’t new? Is there any reason that the new kernels could not try out your old body?”
“General, I am the first to inhabit a form different from the one given at creation. This is something no Kernel has every considered. As such we have no cultural taboos on the subject.”
“We will remain at this base until your new body is tested and the Kernels have the ability to use the gold body. However, as soon as that is done, I plan on leaving for New Aubagne. I plan on having two of the saucers escort us and leave the rest here for defense. Keep me informed of their thoughts on becoming citizens.”
“Yes sir.”
20
Marvin had completed his new body about the time the Major had started to make some progress. It was then that I officially promoted the Major to his Legion rank of Commander and authorized him to make promotions and demotions as needed to build a workable TO&E. Officers were to use Naval rank for simplicity of transfer, and enlisted would use Marine Corps rank because I never did understand chief master petty airman third class.
I took my half of the support staff, Commander Aegeus, and the 3 Platoons of SpecOps I had left and bid the Camp good bye.
As we left orbit, I opened a tight beam transmission to my escort ships and spoke to the group.
“Same basic plan but with some modification for speed. We will approach and depart transit points cloaked until we are sure we are alone, we will accelerate and decelerate under power, and coast cloaked. If we find a Barkun ship that is a temping enough target, the saucers will attack it and keep it busy while the Bus drops off some passengers.”
Marvin took the scenic route. While I had lots to do, capturing a punishment ship and the saucers it held would greatly add to our arsenal. Unfortunately, we did not come across one, and in our search for one we lost an additional 3 weeks of transit time.
When we arrived at the Base, I immediately put the support troops to work. In my absence my Chief of Naval Operations lived up to his name. Using the combined power of the Kernels he had under his command, he was exponentially faster at design. He had workable schematics for the mothership concept, a space based shipyard, and he was actually in the process of producing the first destroyer. He was using the other replicators to push out the parts needed to build additional giant replicators like my original.
Not only was he handling the details, when he told me his plan to build the frame here and attach the base skeleton of a shipyard to the destroyer to build a “frankenship” I decided right then I would see if I could get Doctor Asku to clone him. Just kidding, we were not going to clone anyone, the cultural implications having Kernels as full citizens was all the ethical dilemma I could handle at the time. This was especially true, as we had not yet addressed question if Kernels were only sentient or if they were sapient. That was an essential question to answer before we addressed any more ethical issues.
In the privacy of my suite, Admiral Johns and I had a private meeting.
“Silmon, I admire what you did with the place. You have really capitalized on the resources you had available. The question now is, what next?”
“Tell, I knew you would ask that, because that is the question that has kept me up at night.” He took a sip of Scotch and continued “Based on the intelligence we have from the Kernels, and what we have experienced ourselves on Earth, I doubt the Barkun would attempt to capture the space dock, I think they would just blast it from space. However, I would like to have a platoon of troops stationed at the shipyard just in case. I think the support staff would feel more comfortable having infantry nearby.”
“I agree, so what is your idea to secure the station against bombardment?”
“Besides stealth? Not much, I want to leave the Destroyer, a ram ship, and 10 saucers with the shipyard. As well at your shuttle to ferry mass.”
“Damn man that is just about everything we have. Not counting Marvin’s ship, but adding in yours that is two-thirds of our saucers. It doesn’t leave much to protect this Base.”
“I know, but let's not kid ourselves, the only thing protecting this base is that it is hidden. The spaceport will be exposed. If
we are ever going to build a fleet we have to take this risk.”
“Granted, but like our soldiers say, I don’t have to like it.”
“But you do have to do it.” Johns finished my thought with a wry smile.
“Well Silmon, you can have what you are asking for, but you can’t go. I can’t have my CNO anywhere but behind a desk at headquarters shuffling paper and building a fleet.”
“Hell Tell, I know that, but I could also say the same thing about the Commandant of the Legion.”
“The difference is, I don’t have the skill set to build a fleet. Therefore, my job is to get you what you need to do your job, which includes building a culture. I can’t build a culture or bring you staff from Earth behind a desk. Besides Admiral Johns, as you know rank has its privileges.”
The Admiral laughed, raised his glass in salute, downed it, stood and said,“You know sir, there was a good reason the British didn’t raise enlisted up to become gentlemen.”
As he started toward the door, I replied with a laugh, “Yes, and there is also a reason the Yanks kept beating the British.”
The problem now was who would command the ship building operations. The majority of my warfighters did not have logistics ability, and I have very few support staff with the command experience. Rear Admiral Volk would be present for sure, but he would command the Naval Fleet stationed providing on site security. Once again I hit the main problem with building a plane while flying it. I needed the right people to build ships, and I needed ships to be able to freely travel to Earth to get people.
My other main issue was the Kernels, Marvin was a good example of the Legion’s sincerity in treating them as partners instead of just technology to command, but few seemed interested in joining the legion. I think the years Marvin and I were alone helped him trust me. However, I did not have 5 years to set them and their captain alone on some planet. However, if they were not citizens, then they could reproduce.
